Climate change in the UKOTs an overview of the ... - JNCC - Defra

Infrastructure: Most UKOTs have a high
concentration of critical infrastructure
(ports, airports, houses and businesses) in
the coastal zone. Flooding and physical
damage may lead to closure of roads, airports
and bridges. The resulting disruption
is also likely to affect communications as
well as other key dependent sectors and
services, including tourism, agriculture,
health care delivery and market supplies
(Mimura et al., 2007).
Coastal and marine resources: Oceans
and seas are important ecosystems in all
the UKOTs. The goods and services that
coastal and marine ecosystems provide
UKOTs are critical to the well-being of their
people and economies.
Coral reefs and sea grass beds are important
nurseries for fisheries, for example,
and beaches are breeding grounds for
several marine species, such as turtles in
the Caribbean and Pacific and seals in the
Antarctic and sub-Antarctic. Coral reefs
are an extremely diverse ecosystem. Globally,
they cover a mere 0.2 per cent of
ocean floor, but they are home to 25 per
cent of its species (Roberts, 2003 cited in
Grimsditch et al., 2006), they are also part
of the tourism product that many of the
Caribbean UKOTs market. They generate
the fine white sand that is part of the
appeal of tropical beaches and their abundant
marine life and structural formations
attract snorkellers and divers.
Mangroves and other wetlands are an
important part of the natural defences of
Healthy coral reefs support much
biodiversity in our oceans, but they are
vulnerable to impacts of climate change.
Credit: BdaReef. TMurdoch 2005
several UKOTs and play a role in water
quality management and erosion control.
They are also wildlife habitats and
breeding grounds for some marine
species.
Climate change and sea level rise contribute
to coastal erosion, landward intrusion
of seawater, flooding (including
higher storm surge flooding), damage to
coral reefs from bleaching and disease,
destruction of mangroves and sea grass
Box 7. Possible intensification of the El Niño Southern Oscillation
The natural pattern of El Niño/ La Niña events appears to be changing. The evidence is
not yet conclusive, but it seems that since the 1970s the events are becoming stronger
and more frequent, with little return to normal conditions in between. Climate scientists
are beginning to look at the relationship between this phenomenon and global warming
to ascertain if and to what extent human-induced climate change may be playing a role
in this. Intensification of ENSO would have climate and economic implications globally,
including for UKOTs.
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